Clutch pedal designed to equip a motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a clutch pedal ( 1 ) intended to equip a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle, comprising at least one side plate ( 2   a   , 2   b ) mounted to rotate about a rotation spindle ( 3 ) designed to be connected to the bulkhead of the vehicle, a pedal web ( 4 ) to one end of which is fixed a peg ( 5 ) designed to slide in a first slot ( 21 ) made in the side plate, a movement mechanism ( 7 ) to cause the peg to slide in the slot, defining a length (L) between the rotation spindle of the side plate and the other end of the pedal web, a stud ( 8 ) mounted in the side plate ( 2   a ) at a distance (R) from the rotation spindle and designed to receive the end of the rod of the clutch emitter of the vehicle.  
     According to the invention, this pedal comprises means for obtaining a constant step-down ratio (L/R).

[0001] The present invention relates to a clutch pedal intended to equip a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle, comprising at least one side plate mounted to rotate about a rotation spindle designed to be connected to the bulkhead of the vehicle, a pedal web to one end of which is fixed a peg designed to slide in a slot made in the side plate, a movement mechanism to cause the peg to slide in the slot, defining a length (L) between the rotation spindle of the side plate and the other end of the pedal web, a stud mounted in the side plate at a distance (R) from the rotation spindle and designed to receive the end of the rod of the clutch emitter of the vehicle.

[0002] It is known practice for adjustable pedalboxes to be fitted in motor vehicles and some are currently used in vehicles equipped with automatic gearboxes and controlled from a control unit accessible from the driving position. The term “adjustable” means that all or part of the pedalbox can be moved closer to or away from the driver's seat in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle so that it is possible to tailor the position of at least part of the pedalbox to the position of the driver's seat and therefore to his size.

[0003] In particular, it is known practice in vehicles equipped with mechanical gearboxes for there to be clutch pedals which can be adjusted to suit the size of the driver.

[0004] Thus, clutch pedals of the type mentioned in the preamble are known.

[0005] This type of clutch pedal is not entirely satisfactory, particularly for small drivers. What happens is that once the pedal has been adjusted, the operation of the clutch effected by the driver is not necessarily strong enough to be able to correctly engage the desired gear because the working travel of the pedal is not compensated for.

[0006] The object of the present invention is therefore to propose a clutch pedal of the type mentioned hereinabove, the useful travel of which can be compensated for regardless of its position.

[0007] To do this, the subject of the invention is a clutch pedal intended to equip a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle, comprising at least one side plate mounted to rotate about a rotation spindle designed to be connected to the bulkhead of the vehicle, a pedal web to one end of which is fixed a peg designed to slide in a first slot made in the side plate, a movement mechanism to cause the peg to slide in the slot, defining a length (L) between the rotation spindle of the side plate and the other end of the pedal web, a stud mounted in the side plate at a distance (R) from the rotation spindle and designed to receive the end of the rod of the clutch emitter of the vehicle, characterized in that this pedal comprises means for obtaining a constant step-down ratio (L/R).

[0008] Advantageously, the means for obtaining a constant step-down ratio comprise a link rod, one end of which is secured to the pedal web and the other end of which is secured to a cam equipped with a second slot designed to receive the stud in sliding and to cause it to translate in a third slot made in the side plate.

[0009] Advantageously also, the movement mechanism comprises an angled reduction gearbox coupled to a worm on which a nut secured to the pedal web can slide.

[0010] As a preference, the worm and the angled reduction gearbox are fixed to one of the faces of the side plate.

[0011] According to an additional feature, the link rod is secured directly to the pedal web via the peg.

[0012] According to another feature, the cam is secured directly to the side plate via a pivot connection. According to another feature, the link rod is secured to the cam via a pivot connection.

[0013] As a preference, the length of the link rod, the shape of the slot of the cam and the location of the pivot connections between the link rod and the cam and between the cam and the side plate respectively are designed to be modified as the driver wishes.

[0014] The invention also relates to a pedalbox module, intended to be fitted in a motor vehicle, comprising a pedal as claimed in one of the preceding claims.

[0015] This module advantageously comprises a brake pedal comprising a movement mechanism making it possible to achieve the same spatial movement as is achieved with the clutch pedal.

[0016] Other advantages and features will become better apparent from reading the detailed description below, given with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 which respectively depict:

[0017]FIGS. 1a and 1 b: a view from each of the sides of a clutch pedal according to the invention;

[0018]FIG. 2: a schematic depiction of the path followed by the lower end of the pedal web;

[0019]FIG. 3: a schematic depiction of the curves of the travel of the pedal web as a function of the force supplied to the latter by the driver.

[0020] As depicted in FIGS. 1a and 1 b, the clutch pedal 1 comprises first of all a pair of side plates 2 a, 2 b which are mutually parallel and mounted to rotate about a rotation spindle 3 mounted on a pedalbox support, not depicted, on which a brake pedal is also mounted. This support is designed to be connected to the bulkhead of a motor vehicle, not depicted here. Also mounted fixedly between these two side plates 2 a, 2 b are, in their upper part, a reinforced peg 31 parallel to the rotation spindle 3 and on which an assistance spring, not depicted, can be fixed and, in their lower part, rollers 32, 33 between which a pedal web 4 can slide.

[0021] Fixed to the upper end 4 a of this pedal web 4 is a peg 5 designed to slide in a slot 21 made in the side plates 2 a and 2 b. Fixed to the lower end 4 b of the pedal web 4 is a block 6 of a shape known per se and of a size suited to the vehicle.

[0022] A movement mechanism 7 is provided on the outer face of the other side plate 2 b, to cause the peg 5 to slide in the slot 21, defining a length (L) between the rotation spindle 3 of the side plate and the lower end 4 b of the pedal web 4 approximately at the middle of the block 6. This mechanism 7 comprises an angled reduction gearbox 71 coupled to a worm 72 on which a nut 73 secured to the pedal web 4 can slide. The angled reduction gearbox 71 consists of a gearset known per se and not depicted here. Its input 710 is connected to an electric motor by a transmission cable known per se. This electric motor is advantageously, for cost and space reasons, the one which powers the other mechanisms for moving the other pedals.

[0023] A stud 8 is mounted so that it is free to translate in two slots 22 a, 22 b made in the two side plates 2 a, 2 b of identical shape and mutually parallel, at a distance (R) from the rotation spindle 3. Fixed by clipping to this stud 8 is the end of the hydraulic rod 9 of the clutch emitter which rod is depicted in dotted line. The connection between the stud 8 and the clutch emitter may also be achieved by a cable in a way known per se.

[0024] The clutch pedal 1 finally comprises a link rod 10 one end of which is fixed to the peg 5 and the other end of which is fixed to a cam 11 via a pivot connection 12. The cam 11 is itself mounted to pivot about a spindle 13 fixed to the side plate 2 a and is equipped with a second slot 14 of semicircular overall shape which is off-axis with respect to its rotation spindle 13 and in which the stud 8 slides.

[0025] The way in which the clutch pedal just described and equipping a vehicle works will now be explained.

[0026] When the driver of the vehicle gets into the latter, he adjusts the position of the clutch pedal 1 by actuating the electric motor connected to the angled reduction gearbox 71. The latter transmits a rotational movement to the worm 72, which moves the nut 73 parallel to the side plates 2 a, 2 b. The peg 5 of the pedal web 4 therefore slides in the slot 21, and this causes the length (L) between the lower end 4 b of the pedal web 4 and the rotation spindle 3 to vary along the path depicted schematically in FIG. 2a. The motor is actuated until a length (Lo) corresponding to a satisfactory driving position for the driver is reached.

[0027] At the same time, the link rod 10 slides downward and moves the cam 11, which causes the stud 8 to translate along the slots 22 a, 22 b made in the side plates 2 a, 2 b. The distance (R) is thus modified until it reaches the value (Ro) so that the ratio (Lo/Ro) is equal to the initial ratio. Thus, the pedal 1 has a step-down ratio (L/R) that remains constant regardless of its position with respect to the bulkhead, that is to say regardless of its travel. As far as the driver is concerned this is manifested in a constant force to be applied.

[0028] It goes without saying that numerous modifications of details may be made without thereby departing from the scope of the invention. 

1. A clutch pedal (1) intended to equip a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle, comprising at least one side plate (2 a, 2 b) mounted to rotate about a rotation spindle (3) designed to be connected to the bulkhead of the vehicle, a pedal web (4) to one end of which is fixed a peg (5) designed to slide in a first slot (21) made in the side plate, a movement mechanism (7) to cause the peg to slide in the slot, defining a length (L) between the rotation spindle of the side plate and the other end of the pedal web, a stud (8) mounted in the side plate (2 a) at a distance (R) from the rotation spindle and designed to receive the end of the rod of the clutch emitter of the vehicle, characterized in that this pedal comprises means for obtaining a constant step-down ratio (L/R).
 2. The clutch pedal as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the means for obtaining a constant step-down ratio (L/R) comprise a link rod (10), one end of which is secured to the pedal web (4) and the other end of which is secured to a cam (11) equipped with a second slot (14) designed to receive the stud in sliding and to cause it to translate in a third slot (22 a, 22 b) made in the side plate (2 a, 2 b).
 3. The pedal as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the movement mechanism (7) comprises an angled reduction gearbox (71) coupled to a worm (72) on which a nut (73) secured to the pedal web can slide.
 4. The pedal as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the worm and the angled reduction gearbox are fixed to one of the faces of the side plate.
 5. The pedal as claimed in one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the link rod is secured directly to the pedal web via the peg.
 6. The pedal as claimed in one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the cam is secured directly to the side plate via a pivot connection (13).
 7. The pedal as claimed in one of claims 5 to 6, characterized in that the length of the link rod, the shape of the slot of the cam and the location of the pivot connections between the link rod and the pedal web and between the cam and the side plate respectively are designed to be modified as the driver wishes.
 8. The pedal as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side plate comprises another reinforced peg (31) on which an assistance spring can be fastened.
 9. A pedalbox module, intended to be fitted in a motor vehicle, comprising a pedal as claimed in one of the preceding claims.
 10. The module as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that it comprises a brake pedal comprising a movement mechanism making it possible to achieve the same spatial movement as is achieved with the clutch pedal. 